Lamp cluster and switch.



No. 767,681. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

R. 'B. BENJAMIN? LAMP CLUSTER AND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1908. RENEWED MAY 2, 1904. N0 MODEL. 2flllEBTS-SHEET 1.

No. 767,681. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. I R. B. BENJAMIN.

LAMP CLUSTER AND SWiTCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY '1. 190a. RENEWED my 2,1994.

N0 MODEL. 2 BHEBTBSHEET 2.

No. 767,681. Patented August 16, 190 b UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OFILLINOIS.

LAMP CLUSTERAND SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,681, dated August16, 1904.

Application filed May 7, 1903- Iteneived May 2, 1904. Serial No.206,038. (No model.)

T whom it y elm/067%! I the line at 00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan viewBe it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, of my improved device. Fig. 3 isa plan view acitizen of the United States, residing at Chiof said devicewith the switch and easing 5 cago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllithereof removed to showmore particularly 5 nois, have invented. acertain new and useful the interior arrangement of the cluster. Fig.Improvement in Lamp Clusters and Switches, 4 is an interior view of theswitch. mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,showing the switch open. Fig. 5 is a similar and exact description,reference being had to view showing the switch closed, and Fig. 6 is theaccompanying drawings, forming a part aview showingamodiiication ofmyinvention.

10 of this specification. Referring now to the drawings, therein is Myinvention relates to improvements 1n shown amain supporting-base ofsuitable maelectrlc-lamp clusters. terial, such as porcelain 1, adaptedto be at- It has for its object to combine with a plutached to asuitable support. The base has a rality of lamp-holding devices havingassocicentral raised portion 2, provided with an r 5 ated contactsaswitch arranged as hereinafter opening 3. Upon said base is mounted aset forth for controlling the circuit of the spun or truncated plate 4,which has inclined lamps. side walls and a preferably fiat bottom. At

A further object of the invention is to proone side of the bottom isarranged an open- 5 ducealamp-clusterhavingaswitch associated ing 5, andthe side walls of said truncated 2o therewith for controlling thecircuits of the plate are provided with a plurality of openlamps whichwill be cheap to manufacture, ings in which are arranged lamp-receivingsimple in construction, and neat in appearshells 6. Each lamp-receivingshell preferance. ably has an outwardly-flared flange, which 7 Inaccordance with my invention in the prebears against the inner portionof the side I 2 5 ferred form thereof I provide amain supportwalls andwhich is secured to said plate by ing-base adapted to be mounted inposition in solder or other means for securing or fastenany of thecustomary ways, a supplemental ing the lamp-receiving shell in positionon the base mounted in front of and parallel to said truncatedcontact-plate. supporting-base, lamp-receivers and associ- Upon thecentralraised portion of the base 3 ated contacts mounted in anysuitable manner is arranged a plurality of center contacts 8,

between said supporting and supplemental one being provided oppositeeach lamp-rebases, an inclosing casing having an opening ceiving shell.The several centercontacts opposite each lamp-receiver, and the elementsare preferably electrically connected by a of a suitable switch carriedupon the front of metallic strip or plate 10, which is secured to 3 5said supplemental base. In this manner all the base by screws or othermeans and which of the live parts of the socket are inclosed beholdssaid center contacts in position. This tween the two bases and thecasing, while the plate is provided with a binding-screw 11 forsupplemental base effectively insulates the connecting therewith one ofthe supply-wires, 8 5 switch-contacts from the casing and the cirwhichmay be brought in through the opening 4 cuit-conductors of oppositepolarity. The 3 in the'base. The bottom of the truncated switch partsthus occupyacentrally-disposed plate has secured thereon, preferably byposition, and the handle thereof is readily acscrews, a switch-base 12.This base carries cessible in operating the switch. suitable stationarycontacts 13, which are 9 The accompanying drawings show the preadaptedto be bridged by a movable contact 45 ferred embodiment of my invention,and 14. The several contacts of the switch mounttherein the severalviews are as follows: ed upon the base 12 are preferably inclosed Figurel is a sectional elevation taken on by a casing 15, and a stem 16,having a knob 17, is provided for operating said switch. The switch hereshown is of the snap type, the construction of which is well understood;but of course any desirable form of switch may be employed. The base forthe switch is provided with an opening 18, and a suitable binding-post19 is provided for connecting one of the supply-wires to one of thestationary contacts of the switch. Upon the bottom of the truncatedplate is preferably secured a pin 20, which passes through an aperturemade to receive the same in the base and which is connected with abinding-post 21 of. the other stationary contact.

A suitable casing 22 is provided for the lamp-receiving shells. Thiscasing is provided with an aperture opposite each of the lamp-receivingshells to permit the insertion of the lamps into said shells, and saidcasing is also provided with a central opening to receive the base ofthe switch. This casing is insulated from the live parts of the deviceby the base of the cluster and the base of the switch, and bushings 23are inserted between the lamp-receiving shells and the casing toinsulate said shells from said casing. Said bushings are preferablyscrew-threaded upon the lamp-receiving shells and support the easing forthe cluster in position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of my device in which the.switch-base is formed with a flange 25 for retaining the casing for thecluster in position. In other respects this form of device is similar tothe device shown in the other figures of the drawings.

As above stated, the hole 3 in the base of the cluster is provided forthe passage of the supply-wires into the interior of the casing. One ofsaid wires is joined with the strip which connects the center contactsfor the lamps and the other is passed through the opening in the bottomof the truncated plate and an aperture in the base of the switch andconnected with one of the stationary contacts by the binding-posts, asabove described. The binding-post of the other contact of said switch isconnected with the truncated contact-plate by the pin which is attachedto the binding-post of said contact and the truncated plate. In thisarrangement of the connections of the circuit-wires the lamps will beconnected in circuit in multiple when the switch is closed, the circuitfor the lamps being traced from the center contacts through the lamps tothe truncated contactplate, thence through the pin 20 through the switchto the other side of the circuit. Of course the lamps may be cut out ofcircuit at any time by operating the switch. By slight change in thecircuit arrangement the lamps might be connected in series and theswitch used to equal advantage therewith.

There are of course many changes in the details of construction hereinshown and described for the purpose of disclosing my invention which maybe made without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Letters Patent Nos. 721,7 74 and 7 21,77 7 dated March 3, 1903, Ihave shown several ways of suporting the lamp-receivers and associatedcontacts in position within the structure formed by the supporting-baseand the inclosing casing, and it will be understood that instead ofemploying the supporting means herein illustrated I may employ the meansshown in said Letters Patent aforesaid or any other suitable supportingmeans.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a mainsupporting-base, of a supplemental base suitably supported in positionin front of and parallel to said main base, a plurality of lamp-holdingdevices having associated contacts and located between said bases, andall the elements of a switch mounted upon said supplemental base forcontrolling the contacts of said lamp-holding devices, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a main supporting-base,

of an insulating supplemental base suitably supported in front of andparallel to said main base, a plurality of lamp-holding devices havingassociated contacts and disposed between said bases, a casing for'saiddevices having openings to permit the passage of lamp-bases into saiddevices and an opening to accommodate said supplemental base, and allthe elements of a switch mounted upon said supplemental base forcontrolling the contacts of said lamp-holding devices, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a mainsupporting-base, of a supplemental base of insulating material, suitablemeans between said bases for sup porting said bases in parallelpositions, a plurality of lamp-holding devices carried by said means, acasing for said devices having openings to receive lamp-bases and anopening to receive said supplemental base, and the elements of a switchmounted in front of said supplemental base, said switch elements beinginsulated from said casing by said supplemental base, substantially asdescribed.

4. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a mainsupporting-base, of a supplemental base of insulating material, aplurality of lamp-holding devices located between said bases andsupporting said bases in parallel positions, a casing for said deviceshaving openings to accommodate said lampholding devices and an openingfor said supplemental base, screw-threaded bushings for said openingsadapted to insulate said devices from said casing and to support saidcasing in position, switch-contacts all mounted upon the front of saidsupplemental base for controlling the contacts of saidlamp-holdingdevices and a suitable supplemental casing for saidswitch-contacts, substantially as dethe combination with a mainsupporting-base,.

of a supplemental base of insulating material suitably supported in aparallel position to said main base and in front thereof, a plurality oflamp-holding devices located between said bases, a casing for said baseshaving holes to accommodate said devices and an opening for saidsupplemental base, an annular shoulder formed upon said supplementalbase adapted to engage said casing and support said casing in position,and switch-contacts mounted upon said supplemental base, said contactsbeing insulated from said casing by said supplemental base,substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a mainsupporting-base, of a supplemental base of insulating material, meanscarrying lamp-holding devices and supporting said bases in parallelpositions, a pin secured to said means and extending through saidsupplemental base, switch-contacts mounted upon said supplemental base,and means for connecting said pin with one of said switchcontacts,substantially as described.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination with a main orsupporting base, of a supplemental base of insulating material, meanscarrying lamp-holding devices and supporting said-bases in parallelpositions, a pin secured to said means and extending through saidsupplemental base, switch-contacts mounted upon said supplemental base,means for connecting said pin with one of said switch-contacts, andmeans for connecting a supply-wire with the other switch-contact,substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a mainsupporting-base of suitable material, a supplemental base arranged infront of and parallel to said supporting-base and suitably supported inposition, a plurality of lamp-holding devices having associated contactsand arranged between said bases, and the elements of a switch arrangedupon said supplemental base.

9. In a device of the character described in combination, a suitablemain supportingbase, a supplemental base arranged in front of andparallel to said supporting-base, a plurality of lamp-holding devicessuitably supported between said supporting-base and said supplementalbase, the elements of a switch arranged upon said supplemental base forcontrolling the circuits of said lamps, and a suitable inclosing casinghaving openings to accommodate the lamp-bases and a centrallydisposedopening to accommodate the switch elements.

-1O. In a device of the character described, in combination, a mainsupporting-base of suitable material, a supplemental base arranged infront of and parallel to said supporting-baseand suitably retained inposition, a plurality of lamp-holding devices having associated contactsand arranged between said supporting-base and said supplemental base,and the complete elements of a switch carried upon the front of saidsupplemental base and adapted to control the circuits of the lampsupported by said devices.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, a suitablemain supportingbase, a supplemental base arranged in front of andparallel to said supporting-base and suitably supported in position, aplurality of lam p-holding devices arranged between said bases andhaving associated contacts, and switch-contacts arranged upon the frontof said supplemental base and suitably connected with the contacts ofsaid lamp-holding devices in the rear of said supplemental base.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence oftwo witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

Witnesses:

M. R. RooHFoRD, EDWIN B. H. TONER, Jr.

